University of Minnesota Athletics
Auburn Scores Late, Eliminates NDSU, 1-0
5/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS - With its season on the line, No. 21/22 Auburn won its second game of the day on Saturday at the 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Minneapolis Regional, as the Tigers scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to eliminate North Dakota State, 1-0.
Auburn (41-18-1), which lost to NDSU by a score of 5-2 on Friday, eliminated Green Bay this afternoon and turned around to defeat the Bison (36-18) and advance to Sunday's 1:30 p.m. championship game against No. 14/16 Minnesota.
If the Gophers lose, the teams would play a deciding game approximately 45 minutes after the first game, with the winner qualifying for next weekend's NCAA Super Regionals.
Sophomore left fielder Tiffany Howard provided the winning run, as she led off the top of the seventh by driving her third double of the season to the gap in left center. Howard then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored the game's lone run on a single to left by freshman third baseman Kasey Cooper.
The game was a pitching duel, with Auburn sophomore right-hander Lexi Davis and NDSU junior righty Krista Menke holding the offenses at bay until the fateful seventh frame. Davis improved to 21-11 by allowing just four hits and striking out five, while Menke ends her season with a record of 29-9 after surrendering six hits, one earned run and striking out six with a pair of walks.
Sophomore catcher Austyn West was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Tigers, while senior backstop Jenina Ortega went 2-for-3 with a double for the Bison.
